Harsh contrasts of black and white. Loose penwork applied with reckless abandon. Lavish models drawn in the finest caricature of high fashion. Such are the hallmarks of Kyoko Okazaki, one of the most avant-garde mangaka of our time.

Usagi Drop could have been a fantastic josei manga that dealt with real-world issues in a lighthearted, fun way. But its ending had many readers, myself included, asking some uncomfortable questions and wondering just where things took a controversial turn.